ONONDAGA COUNTY – Given the way they both concluded the regular season, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse boys basketball teams both had reasons to think they could win the Section III Class AA championship.

But if they were to meet again, it would have to be in a sectional final, since the Warriors possessed the no. 2 seed and the Northstars the no. 4 seed in the tournament that got underway late this week.

Liverpool could rest with a first-round bye. Not so with C-NS, who had to get past no. 13 seed PSLA-Fowler in Friday’s opening round – and did so with ease, routing the Falcons 82-30.

Any worries that C-NS might overlook Fowler quickly dissipated as the Northstars nearly blanked the Falcons in the first quarter, grabbing a 21-2 advantage.

It continued from there, Luke Paragon leading the way as he got 25 points. Andrew Benedict earned 15 points, with Reece Congel getting13 points and Jerrod Hills adding 12 points.

In Tuesday’s quarterfinal, it’s C-NS against no. 5 seed Fayetteville-Manlius, who ousted Corcoran 66-54. The winner meets West Genesee or Henninger in next Saturday’s semifinal at SRC Arena.

After a hard-fought Feb. 11 defeat to Albany’s Green Tech, Liverpool went to F-M last Monday and, buoyed by a great start, was able to defeat the Hornets 65-54.

The Warriors didn’t let up until it had built a 20-10 advantage by the end of the first quarter, and for the rest of the game F-M pursued Liverpool, yet was unable to catch up.

What made the difference was that the Warriors had four viable options. Jacob Works put in 22 points, with Andreo Ash getting 18 points and Jaiden Reynolds earning 13 points as Bruce Wingate got nine points.

On the Hornets’ side, Trevor Roe amassed 26 points and seven rebounds, with Max Danaher getting 16 points, but Luke Davidson was held to a season-low three points.

Liverpool then nearly got to the century mark against Binghamton a night later, handling the Patriots 98-80 in a game where it led most of the way and used a 24-12 push through the third quarter to settle it.

Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Reynolds, who tore it up for 27 points. Works gained 16 points, with Jah’Deuir Reese and Shontez Anderson both producing 13 points and Bruce Wingate getting 10 points. Ash had eight points.

Now Liverpool rested and, a week later, returns to face no. 7 seed Utica Proctor in Tuesday’s sectional quarterfinal, looking to advance to next Saturday’s semifinal against Christian Brothers Academy or Baldwinsville.